Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 53

(x) The Queen's South Africa Medal awarded to Captain T. C. Fryer, Marshall's Horse, who was wounded in action in January 1901, emigrated to Canada, re-enlisted in 1914 and was wounded and taken a Prisoner of War on 22 April 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres at Kitchener's Wood

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (Lieut: T. C. Freyer. Marshall's Horse.) nearly extremely fine

Thomas Claude Fryer was in Dublin, Ireland on 14 June 1876 and baptised at Portobello Barracks, Dublin on 4 August 1876, strongly suggesting that his father was a soldier. Enlisting with the Middlesex Regiment on 30 April 1896 with the service number 4841, listing previous service with the 12th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer (Militia). Posted to South Africa on 16 December 1896 with the 1st Battalion Fryer was to purchase his discharge the following year on 16 September 1897 for 16 pounds.

The details of his life in South Africa after this are hazy however Fryer certainly remained there, possibly also travelling to Rhodesia. Commissioned Lieutenant with the Rhodesia Regiment on 20 August 1899 for service in the Anglo-Boer War, but left them the next month for Rimington's Guides which he joined on 26 October 1899. It was with this unit that he saw action during General Methuen's attempt to relieve Kimberly in late 1899.

After the failure of that offensive Fryer was again transferred, this time joining the 1st City (Grahamstown) Volunteers on 25 January 1900. The four companies of Mounted Infantry raised by this unit were referred to as Marshall's Horse and it was with them that Fryer was to serve for the rest of the war. Marshall's Horse saw action at Doornkop west of Johannesburg on 29 May 1900 and later at Diamond Hill. Fryer was wounded in action in January 1901, suffering a bullet wound to his abdomen which penetrated through to his right hip.

Evacuated aboard the St. Andrew on 22 January 1901, he returned to South Africa after convalescing and served during the 1906 revolt as a Lieutenant in Royston's Horse. Fryer was later to emigrate again, this time to Canada where he was commissioned Lieutenant for service in the Great War on 22 September 1914. Posted to the 10th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force that same month he embarked with Scandinavian on 29 September for training in Britian.

Promoted Captain on 3 February 1915 Fryer entered the war in France on 7 February with the Battalion being thrown into action almost immediately at the Second Battle of Ypres. Ordered to launch a counter-attack at Kitchener's Wood on 22 April they moved through a gap in the German gas and cleared the oak plantation at bayonet point. Despite their success they saw heavy losses with 19 officers and nearly 600 other ranks listed as casualties. Fryer was among them, being wounded for the second time in his career and taken prisoner.

Repatriated in June 1918 via neutral Switzerland he was discharged on 19 December 1919; sold together with copied research comprising medal rolls, service papers, document of commission in the Canadian forces and war diary entries.

Further entitled to the King's South Africa Medal with 2 clasps, Natal 1906 with clasp, 1914-15 Star and British War and Victory Medals.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£520

Starting price
£190